Apparatus for bending wood.



N0. 662,654. Patented NGV. 27, |9011 F. B. NEWTON. APPARATUS FUR BENDING WDUD.

(Application med Feb. 2, 189s.)

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Patented Nov. 27, I90UI. F. B. NEWTIJN. APPARATUS FOR BENDING' WOOD.

(Application led Feb. 2, 1898.)

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No. 662,654. Patented Nov. 27, |900'.

F. B.VNEWT0N. f APPARATUS FOR BENDING WOOD.

(Applitinn led Feb. 2, 1898.)

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Nn.v 662,654.

Patented Nov. 27, |900. F. B. NEWTON. APPARATUS FOR BENDING WOOD.

(Application Sled Feb. 2, 1898.)

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FRANK B. NEVTON, OF CHARLEVOI, PENNSYLVANIA.

AFPAllA'l'USSA FOR BENDING WOOD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,654, dated November 27, IQIOO.

Application filed February Z, 1898. Serial No. 668.813.4110 model.)

[o all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANK B. NEWTON, a resident of Gharlevoi,in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Bending Wood; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Myinveution relates to apparatus for bending wood, suoli as the handles of shovels spades, and such other implements to which the invention may apply.

Taking the manufacture of shovel-handles by way of illustration, it has been the general custom heretofore to force the end of the shovel-handle to be bent longitudinally through a die having a passage or channel corresponding to the shape to be given to said handle. The disadvantage of this method of bending lies in the fact that as the handle is fed longitudinally to the die each portion of that part of the handle acted on has to follow the curves or bends of the die-passage. The consequence is that as the handle is fed to the die the eXtreme lower portion of the handle will iirst be bent at the first turn in the die-passage, and then as said handle advances farther the extreme portion of the handle which was just bent passes into the portion of the die-passage curved in the opposite direction, the result being that having been 'Iirst bentit is then straightened. This bending and then straightening is a severe tax on the fibers of the wood, and the wood having once been bent is often split or weakened by the bending in a different direction. This leaves weak points at that portion of the handle where the greatest strain comes.

The object of my invention is to give the proper bend and shape to the wood without subjecting the fibers ot the same to opposite bending strains at the same point, so that no portion of the wood is bent more than once, and at the same time to compress the fibers longitudinally and imparting an upsetting to the handle for the reasons more fully hereinafter apparent.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I isa side elevation of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the plungers lowered. Fig. 4L is a plan view of the platform or su pport for dies with the mold in position thereon. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of' the dies. Fig. 6 is a perspective view oi' the mold. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic View of the inner surface of one of the side dies. Figs. 8 to le are views showing the gradual steps in bending as performed by the contiguous faces of the side dies as the wood is forced down between said dies. Figs. I5 and I6 are enlarged diagrams of the die and die-bottom, respectively7 showing the points projected.

Like letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

While I have illustrated my invention as applied to the bending of shovel-handles and I will describe it in that connection, yet I do not wish to limit its scope to any particular application of it.

The letter a designates a suitable table or support adapted to carry the bending mechanisin about to be described. Erected on said table d is the plunger-frame o', having the guideways a2 formed therein. Vithin the guideways a2 iits the cross-head l), which is adapted to reciprocate in said guideways. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for operating said cross-head, and I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the same in detail. The connections bl connected to said cross-head may extend up to a crank-shaft.

Suspended from the cross-head b by means of the bolts c are the hangers c, said hangers having the shaft d journaled therein. The individual plungers e are suspended from the shaft d, said plungers being formed of two parts connected by the sleeve-nuts el with right and left hand threads, so that the length of the plungers may be Varied to suit the circumstances. The upper ends of the plungers c have the rings c2 formed therein, which encircle the shaft d loosely, being free to swing thereon. The rings e2 ofthe several plungers are separated by the liners or washers e3. By

this construction the shaft d may be quickly removed and one or more of the plungers taken therefrom or the distance between the plungers may be varied by the use of more or The lower ends of the plungers less liners.

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e have the curved ends e4, adapted to correspond with the curve of the handles to. be operated on.

The table at has the recessfformed therein, the bottomf' of said recess havingthegroove]2 therein. This groove is adapted to receive the correspondingly-shaped rib g on the bottom of the mold g. This mold g has a seat formed therein corresponding in shape to the shape to be imparted to the wood. As the seat is made in the present instance for forming the handle of a shovel the said seat is substantially an ogee curve. The mold gis inserted horizontally into the groovef2, the rib g sliding freely therein. A suitable stop or shoulder h arrests the inward movement of the die g beyond a certain point.

Mounted on the table a are the side dies t' t', said dies having the flanges 2, by means of which they aresecured to said table. Bolts k pass through openings 7c' in said flanges and corresponding threaded openings in the table itself, said b olts having the nuts 702 thereon. The openings 7c are slightly enlarged to perlnit of the adjustment of said side dies with reference to each other. Adjusting-screws l, passing through threaded openingsin thelugs' l on the table, bear against the flanges t2. The contour of the lower ends of the side dies it, on the inner faces thereof, coincides substantially with the sides of the mold g, so that when said dies are in proper position with relation to each other the lower inner edges of the side dies will correspond with the upper edges of the sides of the mold.

In order that the bending of the Wood may be done gradually, so that the fibers may not be too quickly bent or stretched, but that they may have an opportunity to adjust themselves gradually to their new position, the inner faces of the side dies are formed as illustrated in Figs. 7 to 14 of the drawings. 'Those figures represent the variable pass formed by the contiguous faces of the side dies from the extreme upper ends to the eX- treme lower ends thereof. The letter m represents the form of the pass as made by the upper faces of the side dies, it being noted that said pass at its upper end is formed by two substantially parallel faces. A little farther down, as at m', there is a slight bend in the pass, which bend becomes more pronounced as We descend the remaining variations mz, m3, m4, m5, and m6 of the pass.

It will be evident that the lower portion of a shovel-handle which was straight when it entered the dies c' t' will as it passes through the dierent stages of the bending operation be slightly shortened at each stage, owing to the increase in the bend given to it by each stage. The diagrammatic view Fig. 7 illustrates this gradual shortening of the handle during the bending operation. The vertical lines 1 l, 2 2, 8 3, et 4, 5 5, 6 6, dto., indicate the gradual bending and shortening of the handle, While .the horizontal lines S S, 9 9, 85e., indicate the variations in the pass, as

represented in Figs. 8 to 14, which produce this change in the length. These side dies are so constructed that the shortening of the handle due to the bending operation is provided for and insured by the shape of the dies. Referring to the vertical lines 1 1,2 2, 85e., the line 8 8, which is shown prolonged in dotted lines through the several passes m m, 85o., Figs. 8, 9, the., is substantially a straight perpendicular line. This line represents the center of bend of the handle and the point which follows said line undergoes no substantial change of bending. From this pointthe center of bend-the imaginary lines of the dies converge as they descend. Each succeeding line on either side of the line 8 8 as it descends takes a little more of an incline than the preceding line, carryingits lower end in toward the line 8 8. Of course the face of the die is made up of an infinite number of converging lines, only a few of which are selected and drawn upon the face of the die, Fig. 7, by Way of illustration. In each case a straight-edge placed so as to coincide with the extremities of `these lines would coincide with the face of the die throughout its length. If a handle were placed in the pass 'm at the top of the dies, the points of the wood coinciding with the points 1 2 3 4f, the., would bc firmly grasped in the dies said handle is forced down, and on account of the shape of the dies, as just described, the points would follow the lines l l, 2 2, dac., to the bottom. These lines are so drawn upon the faces of the die that the points of the handle to be bent in following' these lines are forced to properly shorten to correspond to the bending of the wood and prevent flattening or stretching of the fiber as said handle is bent. In practice I have found it better to slightly exaggerate the inclination of these lines-that is, to make them converge slightly more than the exactinclination required. This is to insure the fillingofvthe mold as thehandledescendsand also to insure the proper shortening of the handle due to bending and further prevent flattening the cross-section of the handle at the bending. In Figs. 15 and 16 I have illustrated this principle more clearly. The line 8 8, as stated, is substantially perpendicular and the other lines-converge toward this line 8 8, the result being that the distance between the several converging lines is greater at the upper ends than at the lower ends thereof. The wood in passing down between the dies must be shortened accordingly; but, as stated, I prefer to exaggerate this converging of the lilies in order to obtain more of the longitudinal compressing or upsetting of the bers of the Wood. Taking the view shown in Fig.

16 as representing the lower end of the pas-v sage between thedies, it is apparent that the wood will be bent on the centers of bends fr and y and will 'be drawn away from the opposite concave recesses '.r y. The dotted lines in Fig. 16 represent the form of the passage if the converging of the lines was not IOO IIO

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exaggerated, while the full lines represent the enlargement of the recesses at 'y' to correspond to this exaggeration. The enlargementof theserecesses allows forthisincreased longitudinal compression or upsetting` of the fibers of the wood, and the wood is by this compressing action made to fill up therecesses instead of avoiding them, due to the bending on the bends ,fr

In the bending of handles, duc., it is 11eressary to make different length of snouts to fit the sockets and straps of the shovels. To allow for the forming of said shouts and to insure the exact length of snoutdesired in the finished handle, I provide the gage n, having the inclined face n'. This gage vt is secured to the table a by means of the bolts n2, which pass through slots n3 in the flanges 'a4 on said gage and into openings in the ta ble. The slots n3 permit ot' the adjustment of the gage at different positions. The upper end of gage regulates the proper position of the handle when inserted between the dies previous to the bending operation, and the lower end of the inclined face n insures the proper length of snout in the finished handle.

The letter r designates a guide-arm which is bolted to the fratrie, said arm projecting downwardly and serving to guide the handle for a suitable distance down within the dies and prevent its swerving.

Projecting out from the outer faces of the side dies'i/L", at the upper end thereof, are the studs s. Mounted on said studs s are the plnnger-guides t, having the arms t', through which the studs pass. The arms t have the inwardly-projectingendst2,which bearagainst the dies. Springs u are interposed between the arms t and the nuts on the studs s. These springs act to normally hold the guides t in contact with the plungers e. These guides are for the purpose of insuring the proper position ot' the faces c4 with reference to the handles.

While I have described my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in any sense to the particular con `struction shown, as I desire to include all other constructions which will perform the saine functions in a similar manner.

The operation of my invention as applied to the bending of shovel-handles is as follows: The handle fu, having been properly treated by being steamed or soaked preparatory to the bending operation, is inserted in the npper end of the pass between the side dies it", the operatorholding the outer portion of the handle in contact with the guide-arm fr, so that the handle will enter the dies in the proper position. In other words, the portion of the handle to be bent is introduced into that part of the pass represented by m in Fig. 8, the walls of which are parallel. Power is then applied to lower the plungers e. As said plungers descend they force down the handle and canseit to pass through the various stages oi gradual bending represented by mi 07120713, dre. Itis apparent that in order to accommodate themselves to the changes in the contour of the inner faces of the side dies t' t the plnngers must swing slightly laterallyon the shaft d. Furthermore, to accommodate themselves tothe shortening ofthe handle in bending said plungers must also have a slight end play. It is apparent that as the plungers descend the shape of the pass between the dies will compel them to assume different posi tions. IVhile one of said plungers may descend in substantially a vertical position, another maybe compelled to change its original position to that ot' a slanting one. In order, therefore, that the plungers may all bear upon the handle with equal pressure along that portion of it being bent at the point where the handle iinally passes from the dies to the mold, some of the plungers will have to be longerthan others. Whenthe proper lengths for the different plungers have been determined, the adjustment may be readily effected by the nuts e@ The inner end of the handle abuts against the gage n, and as said handle descends it continues to move :in contact with the inclined face n of said. gage, said incline corresponding to the amount taken up by the different stages of the passage through the dies it" and insuring the proper length of snout desired. When the han dle has been forced by the plungers entirely through the pass formed by the side dies, said handle is pressed into the mold g, its progress through the side dies iitting it to assume its position within said mold. The shape of the inner faces of the side dies is such that the effect oi' the dies on the wood is to upset and shorten it, so to [ill up the space between the dies. This upsetting is caused by the gripping action of the contiguous faces,` which shorten the portion heilig bent gradually, as illustrated by the diagrammatic View. As soon as the handle has entered the mold g the operator by withdrawing the handle withdraws the mold rj with it,said mold moving freely within the groove f2 in the bottom ot' the recess fl The handle is allowed to remain in the mold g until the wood has conformed sui'iiciently to the form of the mold as to retain the shapeimparted to it when removed therefrom. Another mold g is then inserted in position and another handle is fed to the machine, which is subjected to the same bending operation.

By my invention the bending is done so gradually that the fibers ot' the wood are not subjected to any sudden bending strains, and consequently no weak spots develop in the handle where it has been bent. No one portion of the handle is bent in more than one direction, as in the case hereinbet'ore alluded to in which the handle was fed longitudinally to the dies. The compressing of the wood or upsetting which l accomplish I believe to be absolutely novel, and I wish to be understood as claiming the same broadly. Of course in IIO all bending there is a shortening action 5 but the longitudinal compression during the bending is, so far as I am aware, entirely new.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl. In apparatus for bending wood, a die having its Lipper part conforming to the unbent Wood and its lower part conforming to the shape to be imparted to the wood, and its Walls varying from the upper to the lower part of thecdie, and mechanism for forcing the entire portion of the blank to be bent transversely through said die at one time, substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus for bending wood, a die having its upper part conforming to the unbent wood, and its lower part conforming to the shape to be imparted to the wood, and its walls varying from the upper to the lower part of the die, a plurality of plungers entering the top of the die and adapted to `force the entire portion of the wood to be bent transverselythrough the die, substantially as set forth.

3. In apparatus for bending Wood, a die having a pass With Walls gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the wood, and a plurality of plungers adapted to swing sidewise with relation tothe die and therebyT to conform to the shape thereof as. they pass through the same, substantial] y as set forth.

4. In apparatus for bending wood, a die having a pass with walls gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the wood, and a plurality of plungers adapted to swing sidewise with relation to the die and thereby to conform to the shape thereof as they pass through the same, the bases of said plungers being at different levels when entering the die, substantially as set forth.

5. In apparatus for bending wood, a die having a pass with walls gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the Wood, and a plurality. of plungers adapted to swing sidewise with relation to the die and thereby to conform to the shape thereof as they pass through the same, the bases of said plungers being at different levels when entering the die, and on the same level at the end of their stroke, substantially as set forth.

6. In apparatus for bending wood, a die having a pass with walls gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the wood, and a plurality of plungers adapted to reciprocate in the pass of said die, said plungers being formed in sections, and right and left hand sleeve-nuts connecting said sections,

substantially as set forth.

7. In apparatus for bending wood, a die having a pass with walls gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the Wood, a gage at one end of said die against which the end of the unbent blank abuts, and mechanism for forcing the entire portion of the wood to be bent transversely through said die at one time, substantially as set forth.

8.' In apparatus for bending wood, a die having a pass with Walls gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the wood, a gage with an inclined face against which the end of the wood abuts, and mechanism for forcing said Wood through said pass, su bstantially as set forth.

9. In apparatus for bending wood, side dies, the inner contiguous faces of which form a pass gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the Wood, a mold conforming in shape to the extreme inner end of said pass, and mechanism for forcing the Wood through said pass into said mold, substantially as set forth.

10. In apparatus for bending Wood, the combination of a suitable table, side dies supported thereon, the inner contiguous faces of said dies forming a pass gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the Wood,-

a sliding mold conforming in shape to the eX- treme inner end of said pass, Said table having a seat therein within which said mold ts, and mechanism for forcing the Wood through said pass into said mold, substantially as set forth.

11. In apparatus for bending wood, the combination of a suitable table, side dies supported thereon, the inner contiguous faces of said dies forming a pass gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the wood, a sliding mold conforming in shape to the eX- treme inner end of said pass, and having a rib on its bottom face, said table having a seat therein adapted to receive said rib, and mechanism for forcing the Wood through said pass into said mold, substantially as set forth.

l2. In apparatus for bending wood, the combination of a suitable table, side dies supported thereon, the inner contiguous faces of said dies forming a pass gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the wood, a sliding mold conforming in shape to the eX- treme inner end of said pass, and having a V-shaped rib on its bottom face, said table having a V-shaped seat adapted to receive said rib, and mechanism for forcing the wood through said pass into said mold, substantially as set forth. p

13.- In apparatus for bending wood, the combination of a die having a pass with walls gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the wood, a suitable frame extending above the same, a reciprocating crosshead in said frame, and a plurality of swinging plungers suspended from said cross-head and entering the upper ends and adapted to pass through said die, substantially as set forth.

14E. In apparatus forbending wood, the combination of a die having a pass therein with walls gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the Wood, a suitable frame eX- tending above the sa me, a reciprocating crosshead in said frame, a shaft carried by said cross-head and a plurality of swinging plun- IOO IIO

gers suspended from said shaft and entering the upper ends and adapted to pass through said die, substantially as set forth.

15. In apparatus forbending wood, the co1nbination of a die having a pass therein with Walls gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the wood, a suitable frame extending above the die, a reciprocating crosshead mounted in said frame, a shaft carried by said cross-head, and a plurality of plungers having rings at the upper ends thereof engaging said shaft, substantially as set forth.

1G. In apparatus for bending wood, the combination with a suitable frame, of a reciprocating cross-head, a shaft carried by said cross-head, a plurality of plungers having rings at the upper ends thereof engaging said shaft, liners between said rings, and a die having a pass therein with walls gradually conforming to the shape to be imparted to the wood, substantially as set forth.

17. In apparatus for bending wood, the combination with a suitable frame, of a die whose walls form a vertical pass, mechanism for forcing the wood to be bent down into said pass, and a guide-arm beyond said die and adapted to guide said wood therein, the pass of the die being open at the end toward said arm, substantially as set forth.

18. In apparatus for bending wood, the coinbination with a suitable frame, of a die whose walls form a vertical pass, mechanism for forcing the wood to be bent down into said pass, and a downward lyproj ectin g guide-arm beyond said die adapted to guide said Wood therein, the pass of the die being open at the end toward said arm, substantially as set forth.

19. In apparatus for bending wood, the coinbination with a suitable frame, of a die, a plurality of swinging plungers adapted to enter said die, and yielding guides adapted to press against said plungers from opposite sides, substantially set forth.

20. In apparatus for bending wood, the coinbination with a suitable frame, of a die, a plurality of swinging plungers adapted to enter said die, guides on opposite sides of said plun gers, downward ly-eXtendin g arms on said guides, projections on said die upon which said arms are mounted, and springs interposed between said arms and heads on said projections, substantially as set forth.

21. In apparatus for bending wood, the combination with a suitable frame, of a die, a plurality of swinging plungers adapted to en ter said die, guides on opposite sides of said plu n gers, downwardly-exten ding arms on said guides, said arms having inwardly-projecting ends bearing against said die, projections on said die upon which said arms are mounted, and springs interposed between said arms and heads on said projections, substantially as set forth.

22. In apparatus for bending wood, a die having opposing faces bearing on the sides only of the blank and contacting with it at different points, the distance between the opposing die-faces being substantially the same at all points, said faces being so formed as to compress longitudinally the fibers of the wood fed transversely therethrough.

23. In apparatus for bending wood, a die having opposing` faces bearing on the sides only of the blank and contacting with it at different points, the points of engagement of said faces with a given point of the blank in its travel through the die forming a series of converging lines on said faces.

21.1.. In apparatus for bending wood, a die having opposing faces bearing on the sides only of the blank and contacting with it at different points, the points of engagement of said faces with a given point of the blank in its travel through the die forming a series of converging lines on said faces, and mechanism for forcing the blank transversely through said die.

25. In apparatus for bending wood, a die having opposing faces bearing on the sides of the blank and contacting with it at different points, the distance between the opposing die-faces being substantially the same at all points, but the points of engagement of said faces with a given point of the blank in its travel through the, die forming a series of converging lines on said faces.

26. In apparatus for bending wood, a die having' opposing faces bearing on the sides only of the blank and contacting with it at different points, said faces varying laterally from the plane of travel of the blank, and the points of engagement of said faces with a given point of the blank in its travel through the die forming a series of converging lines on said faces.

27. In apparatus for bending wood, a die having a pass formed by contiguous faces bearing on the sides of the blank and contacting with it at different points, said faces varying laterally from the plane of travel of the blank, the variation increasing in degree in the direction of travel of the blank, and the points of engagement of said faces With a given point of the blank in its travel through the die forming a series of converging lines on said faces.

In testimony whereof I, the said FRANK B. NEWTON, have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK B. NEWTON.

Witnesses:

I. P. I-IEPLER, JOHN C. MCKEAN.

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